Here are some highlights from White House press secretary Jay Carney's daily briefing:

1.) BLOWING IN THE WIND: Heather Zichal, deputy Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change, says that Obama will push Congress to reauthorize renewable energy tax credits in an Iowa visit later this week.

2.) CARNEY ENGAGES: The press secretary engages on a major campaign question, defending President Obama and his campaign's attack on Mitt Romney's time at Bain Capital. "He's running as a businessman who can do for America what he did for private equity. I think Americans would expect that credential deserves some scrutiny," Carney said.

3.) HAPPY BIRTHDAY: It's Carney's birthday and he says that nobody in "high places" has sung to him. Yet.

Full liveblog after the jump.

Carney starts at 2:37.

(Also, it's his birthday.)

Talks about Obama's visit to Iowa later this week, where he will call on Congress to renew renewable energy tax credits.

Heather Zichal, deputy Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change, joins the briefing. Carney lets her take over.

Zichal talks about the energy tax credit at stake.

Zichal says that these proposals on the table have traditionally enjoyed bipartisan support.

Zichal says the tax credits are supported by groups like the Chamber of Commerce and the National Governor's Association.

Zichal says that these proposals on the table have traditionally enjoyed bipartisan support.

Zichal says the tax credits are supported by groups like the Chamber of Commerce and the National Governor's Association.

Zichal: "Investing in clean energy is a priority for the president ... the good thing about this proposal is that it has a long history of bipartisan support. It also has the support of NAM, the Chamber and others... We are working hand in hand with those in industry that are able to communicate the potential job loss stories."

Zichal says that these jobs, in communities across the country, will be impacted by the tax credits expiring.

Zichal and Royer depart. Carney takes over.

Carney: "I expect nothing but easy questions for obvious reasons."

That's a joke about his birthday.

Q: Did anyone in high places sing to you?

Carney says his children, but otherwise no. "I'm waiting.

Q: Iran question, on reports of a tentative UN deal with Iran.

Carney says they will make judgments based on Iran's behavior based on actions, not agreements. "Broadly we judge and will judge Iran by its actions."

More: "The world was not unified in its view of Iran" when Obama took office 3 years ago.

Q: Does Iran know specifically what it needs to do for sanctions to be eased?

Carney says the P5+1 is where that will be hashed out. "Promises are one thing, actions and fulfillment" are another, Carney says.

Q: Any disappointment that Colin Powell did not endorse Obama?

Carney: The president appreciated Gen. Powell's support three years ago. ... "It's up to him and every American to decide whom they will support going forward. The commitment that the president made in terms of national security and domestic policy are commitments that he has worked extremely hard to fulfill."

Q: Does the president and the W.H. expect to get a political bump out of what happened over the weekend at NATO and G8?

Carney: "These are weighty substantive issues." Says that Americans and the president don't view them through a political lens."

Carney says "most Americans simply want to make sure that their president is working with his European counterparts."

Q: Is the Iran/P5+1 the last chance for Iran?

Carney: "I don't want to speculate about specific meetings ... The president has made clear that there is a limited period of time here. The window is open ... And that's why the president has put not only significant U.S. resources into this effort... Not just the negotiations but everything that preceded it."

Q: Obama has voiced support for Occupy protests. Did their actions in Chicago sour his impressions?

Carney: "He has understood the frustrations that Americans have about the failure, in particular, of Wall Street in some cases ... Wall Street's role in the financial crisis that helped precipitate the worst crisis since the Great Depression."

More: Carney says Obama addressed protests in his presser yesterday.

Q: This morning, Ed Rendell piled on Obama's Bain attacks. How angry is the president that he's become a reverse Sista Soljah?

Carney points to Obama's comments on Monday. "I will echo them by simply making the point that the issue is not whether private equity plays a role in our economy" but rather what experience you bring to the presidency.

More: "The president's job is not just to maximize the profits of a few... That includes from top to bottom... the most fortunate among us and those who might have been laid off."

Carney calls it "absolutely appropriate" to examine Romney's business record since he has put forward.

Q: Is he angry that every Democrat...

Carney: "I think 'every Democrat' is a gross abuse of the facts..."

Q: Is it hypocritical for Obama to attack Romney and still hold fundraisers on Wall Street?

Carney: "Those individuals are not running for president..."

Q: Why is the W.H. assuming that Romney will run the country as he ran a private equity firm? Obama didn't run the country like a community organizer

Carney: "He made the case that that record...

Q: Why

Carney: "The former governor himself as said as much. ... He's running as a businessman who can do for America what he did for private equity. I think Americans would expect that credential deserves some scrutiny."

Carney says we've seen Romney's policies put in place— under Bush.

Q: ABC/WaPo poll has people saying they're worse off under Obama. Does this not give POTUS pause?

Carney: "I think a finding like that needs to be explained in context ... Four years ago today, we were just in the early stages of economic free fall."

Q: Romney campaign has put out a web video ... workers who were non-union workers who feel like they got shafted in the deal that the Obama administration put together. Do you have a response?

Carney: "I haven't seen the ad. But I think the president is very proud of the record that he has ... Everyone one of those workers ... would have lost their jobs if General Motors and Chrysler had been allowed to fail..."

Q: Are you trying to undermine the fact that most Americans think that Romney is better than Obama on the economy?

Carney says that "most Americans" is an exaggeration.

Carney: "We completely understand that...that's why we have to make sure we keep taking steps" to help the economy grow. "We are still only part of the way out of that hole."

Q: Has Obama spoken to Cory Booker?

Carney says he has nothing.

Q: Was Booker going to campaign for Obama?

Carney says the president has addressed this. "I think on this issue, the president spoke eloquently about how he views it."

Carney refers to the campaign.

Q: Does the president think that having been in private equity is a disqualifier?

Carney: "No" Obama believes that private equity is an important part of the economy.

Q: Bain created jobs too?

Carney: Talk to the campaign if we're going to get into the specifics of a campaign ad. Carney says he will only talk about Obama's broad vision/

Q: Catholic orgs are suing the administration. Response?

Carney: Says the admin. has worked closely with people of fath. "Our doors remain open. ... As you know the policy the president has ... has outlined ... meets two important objectives. It ensures that women have access to important" services like family planning and respects religious liberty.

Q: Is it a failure that admin. did not get Pakistan to resolve supply line issues?

Carney says teams continue to meet, they didn't expect issue to be resolved over the weekend.

Carney ends at 3:33

One reporter shouts out "how old are you," and Carney replies "i wouldn't possibly say..."